The Toronto Maple Leafs Are Pot-Committed to This Core

The Toronto Maple Leafs have no choice but to attempt to win a Stanley Cup with the same core they’ve been losing with.

It may sound crazy to want to watch this Toronto Maple Leafs team attempt to win a playoff round with the same players who have continued to lose year-after-year, but what better option do they have?

If the Leafs trade William Nylander, will they actually acquire a player who’s better than him? His skill is so elite that it’s up to management, the coaching staff and himself to improve on the other area’s of the game.

Nylander probably loves his big pay-cheque every week and scoring goals, but if he wants to take his game to the next level, he needs to add physicality. He can’t be scared to go into the corner’s and if he can improve on that side of his game, he can turn into a top-20 player in the league.

The fact that it’s only his desire that’s stopping him from being an All-Star caliber player makes rooting for him so much worse. We (Toronto’s fanbase) absolutely love  players who put their hard-hat on and go to work. From Darcy Tucker to Zach Hyman, Toronto has always adored these players, but we tend to hate one’s who don’t work hard.

It’s the Only Option for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner haven’t won a playoff round in six years, but how can you ever consider trading them or doing something different? As previously mentioned, Nylander’s contract is actually cheap based on his skill and John Tavares has a no-trade-clause, so none of the core-four are going anywhere, even if we want them to.

These four players may drive us nuts every night, but you’re only going to get worse if you trade one of those guys.

The Leafs had their greatest regular season in team history and lost in seven games to a team that is currently in their third consecutive Stanley Cup Finals. There are zero excuses to losing on home-ice in the First Round, but if there’s ever going to be a team you lose to, losing to the Lightning is one that’s somewhat acceptable.

Professional sports are random and weird and hockey is the pinnacle of that.

One bounce here and the series is completely different. Toronto needs to continue to play the lottery with the same number because one of these day’s, they’re going to hit the jackpot.

It may seem like an impossible dream, but any team with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are bound to win a playoff series. These player’s are just too good and if it’s takes as long as it took Alex Ovechkin (13 years) and the Washington Capitals, so be it.

Blowing this team up or trading any of the core player’s are only going to make this team worse. They have the ability to trade a few bottom-tiered players and improve the roster from within, but getting rid of any of the core players is a terrible idea and something that shouldn’t happen.